In a significant setback for information freedom in Burkina Faso, the nation’s transitional military government has expelled Agnès Faivre and Sophie Douce, two French journalists representing the daily newspapers Libération and Le Monde, respectively. Both correspondents possessed valid visas and accreditation for their work in the country.

According to reports from both publications, national intelligence agents summoned and questioned the journalists about their reporting on March 31 in Ouagadougou, the capital city. They were subsequently given a mere 24 hours to depart the country, with no official reason provided for their expulsion.

In a strongly worded editorial, Libération asserted that the decision to expel its correspondent was “unjustified” and directly linked to her investigation published on March 27. This investigation concerned a video allegedly filmed within a military barracks in Ouahigouya, Yatenga province, depicting the bodies of children alongside individuals appearing in Burkinabè military uniforms. Le Monde similarly denounced these expulsions as “unacceptable” and condemned the “arbitrary decision with the utmost firmness.”

The forced departure of these two journalists marks the latest in a series of assaults on media and expression freedoms in Burkina Faso. This incident follows the suspension of the French international news channel France 24’s broadcasts on March 27, and prior to that, the suspension of French international radio station Radio France Internationale (RFI) on December 3, 2022. In both previous cases, the Burkinabè government accused the outlets of disseminating false information.

“The junta is inflicting irreparable damage on freedom of expression in this nation,” stated Daouda Diallo, a prominent Burkinabè human rights activist and recipient of the prestigious 2022 Martin Ennals Award. “Journalism is not a crime and should cease to be a perilous profession in Burkina Faso.”

Both local and international journalists and news organizations operating in Burkina Faso are facing escalating harassment, threats, and arbitrary arrests. This pattern represents a clear attempt by the military junta to silence independent and critical voices within the country.

As Burkina Faso grapples with an armed conflict involving Islamist armed groups, journalists must be allowed to perform their vital work without fear of reprisal. The transitional military authorities should promptly reverse their decision, permitting Agnès Faivre and Sophie Douce to return. Crucially, authorities must remove all impediments hindering the essential work of journalists who strive to inform and educate the Burkinabè populace.

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